First Hanukkah in Wonderland in Vallejo

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GVRD employee Jeffrey Worrell sets up some inflatable dreidle-spinning bears as part of dressing Vallejo’s Children’s Wonderland up for Hannukkah for the first time, in advance of an event Saturday. Officials there hope to make the event an annual one. (Contributed photo)

It’s Hanukkah at Vallejo’s Children’s Wonderland for the very first time, Saturday at 6 p.m., organizers said.

The holiday commemorates a military victory and attendant miracle said to have happened in 166 B.C., and has been celebrated by Jews since then.

“Last year starting on Nov 1st, the awesome staff at Children’s Wonderland began putting up holiday lights all over the park,” said Greater Vallejo Recreation Department Coordinator Melissa Edwards. “It was a ton of work and it looked amazing. Unfortunately, the only evening that the park was open, was for the tree lighting which is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. We talked about other opportunities for people to see the park lit up. Of course, it didn’t take me any time at all to request a menorah lighting.”

The idea was warmly received by Edwards’ supervisors, she said, and, in fact, the plan is to make it an annual event, “and hope it grows each year.”

The thinking was that some people may be more likely to come to a GVRD Children’s Wonderland event then one sponsored by a synagogue, because of their familiarity with GVRD events, Edwards said.

“When I became the General Manager (of GVRD) over a year ago, I wanted to be more inclusive of the community,” Gabriel Lanusse said. “In the past there was only a Christmas tree at the Administration Building. I had requested that we place a Menorah and any other holiday decorations. So last year we had a Menorah, and this year we actually have an event.”

For next year there are plans in the works to have Children’s Wonderland open on a trial basis for Friday-Sunday evenings to view lights, and incorporate displays from business’s and nonprofits to raise funds for recreational scholarships, Lanusse said.
As for this year’s event, Edwards “reached out to Rabbi (Chaim) Zaklos (of Solano County Chabad) because he is most definitely the expert at Menorah lighting,” Edwards said. “He has been incredibly supportive and thankful for the idea. We look forward to having him light the Menorah.”

“We will have latkes (potato pancakes,) applesauce, and sufganiot (jelly donuts). Everything is kosher,” she said.

The event will also include a dreidel derby, story, and other fun activities for everyone, she said.

“We are hoping that the diverse population of Vallejo come out and celebrates with us to bring some light into the darkness of winter,” Edwards said.

With the Times-Herald since 1999, Rachel Raskin-Zrihen has been a reporter, writer and columnist for several print and online publications for nearly 30 years. She is the married mother of two grown sons and lives locally.